Classical Greece & Idyllic Islands 12 Days Athens to Santorini

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Classical Greece & Idyllic Islands 12 Days Athens to Santorini"

Myrtle Wilkinson
5 years ago
Views:

12 Days Athens to Santorini Discover Greece s extreme beauty on this 12-day tour travelling from ancient Athens uncovering centuries of civilization at the astounding archaeological sites Acropolis,

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Meteora - admire the stunning, UNESCOlisted rock formations and clifftop monasteries Thermopylae - relive the Spartans' famous last stand against the Persians on this narrow

perch on volcanic cliffs Nafplion - stroll through the labyrinthine streets and discover the Venetian and Turkish architecture Trip Highlights What's Included Athens - discover one of the world's

1 12 Days Athens to Santorini Discover Greece s extreme beauty on this 12-day tour travelling from ancient Athens uncovering centuries of civilization at the astounding archaeological sites Acropolis, Olympia and Meteora; soaking up the gorgeous beaches of Zakynthos and the outstanding scenery of the Peloponnese before discovering the magical island of Santorini. HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Meteora - admire the stunning, UNESCOlisted rock formations and clifftop monasteries Thermopylae - relive the Spartans' famous last stand against the Persians on this narrow pass Zakynthos - explore the famous Navagio shipwreck beach and swim in the azure blue waters at the Blue Caves Santorini - relax on one of Greece's most beautiful islands, where whitewashed villages perch on volcanic cliffs Nafplion - stroll through the labyrinthine streets and discover the Venetian and Turkish architecture Trip Highlights What's Included Athens - discover one of the world's oldest cities, from the ancient Acropolis and temple of Zeus to the modern Panathenaic Stadium Peloponnese - cross the rocky peninsula at the heart of Greek history, home to Epidaurus, Mycenae, and the Corinth Canal Olympia - learn about the site of the original Olympics, where the Statue of Zeus - an ancient Wonder of the World once stood Delphi - follow the Sacred Way in the footsteps of pilgrims who sought the oracle's advice at this holy sanctuary 11 nights 3-4 star hotels 11 breakfasts and 3 dinners One arrival transfer on Day 1 (Athens) and One departure transfer on Day 12 (Santorini) included per booking Entrance fees for all included sites Services of an English-speaking tour guide for all scheduled sightseeing Note: Touring is operated in conjunction with other tourist groups, not solely On The Go. You will join travellers who booked through other operators for sightseeing each day, some staying in different hotels, and spend your evenings at leisure. The group can vary in size from - 12 Days persons. Guiding may be in an additional language to English. Guided sightseeing in Athens, Olympia, Zakynthos, Delphi, and Meteora Two ferry tickets - Kyllini - Zakynthos and Praeus - Santorini What's Not Included International flights and visas Tipping - an entirely personal gesture A hotel tax of 3.00 per room per night to be paid directly to the hotel at time of check in. Please budget Euro 18, for the duration of the tour. See Trip Notes for details. DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1 : Athens Welcome to Athens! On arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel, where you have the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight - Athens -1-

Day 2 : Athens Day 5 : Zakynthos This afternoon we briefly stop in Nafplion, a beautiful town filled with numerous Venetian and Turkish buildings, labyrinth streets and authentic atmosphere, before

In the afternoon, we Today we set our sights exploring the most important landmarks and monuments of the historical city of Athens, one of the oldest cities in Europe.

We then continue to other iconic landmarks including the Zappeion, the temple of Olympian Zeus, and Hadrian s wall.

museums in the world. This afternoon is at leisure to further explore wander through the picturesque old neighbourhood of Plaka or shop for souvenirs on Ermou Street.

2 Day 2 : Athens Day 5 : Zakynthos This afternoon we briefly stop in Nafplion, a beautiful town filled with numerous Venetian and Turkish buildings, labyrinth streets and authentic atmosphere, before continuing onto Mycenae, one of the most famous archaeological sites in the country. The site includes the towering Cyclopean walls, the beehive tomb of Agamemnon, and the famous Lion's Gate. In the afternoon, we Today we set our sights exploring the most important landmarks and monuments of the historical city of Athens, one of the oldest cities in Europe. Our first stop is to the Panathenaic Stadium, home of the first modern Olympic Games and the only stadium in the world made entirely from marble. We then continue to other iconic landmarks including the Zappeion, the temple of Olympian Zeus, and Hadrian s wall. Our final stop is to the iconic Acropolis where we enjoy a guided visit to Propylae, the temple of Athena Nike, the Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the Acropolis Museum, recently voted one of the best museums in the world. This afternoon is at leisure to further explore wander through the picturesque old neighbourhood of Plaka or shop for souvenirs on Ermou Street. Overnight - Athens (B) Day 3 : Across the Peloponnese Athens - Epidaurus - Mycenae - Olympia. This morning finds us travelling towards to Peloponnese, home to many of Greece s greatest archaeological sites. Our first stop is to the impressive Corinth Canal which separates the Greek mainland from the Peloponnese before continuing our journey to Epidaurus, a hub of ancient healing famous for its theatres acoustics. cross the Peloponnese mountains to arrive in Olympia for dinner. Overnight - Olympia (B, D) Day 4 : Olympia Olympia Zakynthos. The beautiful town of Olympia, set on the banks of the River Alfios, is ours to explore today. We begin with a tour through the remains of Ancient Olympia, home of the original Olympic Games, including the Temple of Zeus, the Palaestra and Phidias s Workshop. We continue to one of the richest museums in Greece where we marvel at the impressive Hermes of Praxitelis statue. Our afternoon finds us leaving the rest of the group and taking a private transfer to the port of Kyllini where we embark on the local ferry to the island of Zakynthos, one of the most popular islands on the Ionian Sea. After checking into our hotel, we have the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Please note this excursion is subject to weather conditions. Should this tour not operate clients should request a refund for this day with On The Go once the tour has finished. Overnight - Zakynthos (B) Overnight - Zakynthos (B) - 12 Days This morning we embark on a coach tour to the north-east part of Zakynthos, with our guide telling us about the history and mythology of the island en-route. We have a brief stop at Alykes Hills for the perfect photo opportunity with great scenery overlooking the whole of the island, mainland Greece and the neighbouring island of Kefalonia. We arrive at a small fishing village where we board our boats to travel around the north shores of the island, arriving at Navagio beach, the most photographed beach in the world, before the crowds. Our boat then continues to the famous Blue Caves (subject to weather conditions), one of the islands most famous natural attractions, for a dip in the caves rich waters which appear to turn everything below the water blue. On our way back to the port we look out for dolphins and sea-turtles before stopping at the seaspa of Xingia, a small sandy beach with turquoise waters containing traces of Sulphur and collagen, for a swim that will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. We return to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure. -2-

Day 6 : Zakynthos Day 8 : Kalambaka Day 12 : Santorini Our tour of Greece ends today. Spend the morning at leisure before an included transfer to Santorini airport for your onward flight.

This morning we have some free time to enjoy the town of Zakynthos before we make our way back to Kyllini port.

Overnight - Delphi (B, D) Day 7 : Delphi Kalambaka - Meteora Athens. After breakfast we visit the stunning Meteroa World Heritage Site.

We return to Athens for the night stopping at Thermopylae, where King Leonidas and 300 Spartans made a famous last stand against the Persians in 480 BC.

3 Day 6 : Zakynthos Day 8 : Kalambaka Day 12 : Santorini Our tour of Greece ends today. Spend the morning at leisure before an included transfer to Santorini airport for your onward flight.(b) Our partners This tour is operated in conjunction with our trusted partner and you will join travellers who booked through different operators, not solely On The Go. Zakynthos Delphi. This morning we have some free time to enjoy the town of Zakynthos before we make our way back to Kyllini port. From there we take a transfer to the meeting point and rejoin the group before continuing around Oatras and over the Rio-Antirio bridge to Delphi for dinner. Overnight - Delphi (B, D) Day 7 : Delphi Kalambaka - Meteora Athens. After breakfast we visit the stunning Meteroa World Heritage Site. The towering rock formations have provided a sacred retreat for monks over centuries. We explore the Orthodox monasteries hidden at the top and marvel at the spectacular view across the plain. We return to Athens for the night stopping at Thermopylae, where King Leonidas and 300 Spartans made a famous last stand against the Persians in 480 BC. Overnight - Athens (B) Day 9 : Athens Athens Santorini. After breakfast, we travel to the port of Piraeus to catch the local ferry to the magical island of Santorini. The journey takes roughly 8 hours and once we have docked we are transferred to our hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight - Santorini (B) Delphi Kalambaka. Delphi, one the most sacred pilgrimage centre in the world, is ours to explore today. We begin admiring the Sanctuary of Apollo before we walk up the Sacred Way, the path followed by ancient visitors that runs through the Sanctuary until we reach the temple of Apollo, where we ll find the bronze Charioteer statue and mythical omphalos stone. This afternoon we cross the mountains of central Greece back to the mainland, arriving in Kalambaka, the gateway to Meteroa, for an evening meal. Overnight Kalambaka (B, D) Days : Santorini Our tours of Greece are modular, meaning that more people may join the group midway through the tour and the people you are with on your Athens city tour may not be the same people that you will travel with for the rest of the trip. This also means that the group size can vary during your tour from 15 to 45 people. You will enjoy guided sightseeing during the daytime and spend the majority your evenings at leisure, staying in 4 star (First Class) hotels. There will some people on your tour who booked through different operators and will be staying in a lower standard of (Tourist Class) hotels. Please note that dependent upon the group demographic, the guiding sightseeing may be in French as well as English. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Greece Country Guide Greece Visas UK, AUS, NZ, USA and CAN passport holders do not require a visa at present to enter Greece for touristic purposes, for a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The next two days are at leisure to explore the volcanic island of Santorini. No trip to the island would be complete without exploring the whitewashed towns of Fira and Oia which boast amazing views of the volcano that birthed the island, sit on the black-sanded beaches for one of the best sunsets in the Aegean, or cruise along the caldera on a boat tour. Overnight - Santorini (B:2) - 12 Days Style of Tour For passport holders of other nationalities not included here, please check the visainformation/greece website for more information. South African Residents Greece is part of the borderless region known as the Schengen Area and South African passport holders require a Schengen visa in order to enter Greece. A passport valid for at least three months from your departure is -3-

4 required and a visa will only be issued if blank pages are available. for the procurement of subject to change but without the crowds. It's warm on the islands and the waters are nice enough for a swim. Peak tourist season doesn't start until midjune and lasts until early September. During this time the islands are buzzing with people, vaccinations for your home country, including measles, mumps and polio. Other vaccines to consider are Tetanus and Tick-borne Encephalitis. Visit the NHS Fit to Travel page or the CDC Traveler s Health Page for more application requirements include round-trip travel itinerary specifying entry and exit dates from the Schengen state and proof of funds to support yourself during your stay, ask your bank for this, it should include your name too. both travellers and locals alike. If you're visiting during this time it's best to book hotels, flights and local ferries as far as in advance as possible to avoid disappointment and secure better prices. information. Between September and mid-october the soft light and delicate colours are particularly suited to photography. The sea water retains the heat of the mid-summer months so swimming is definitely still on the cards. British Pounds, US Dollars and other major currencies can be easily exchanged locally in banks or bureau de change prior to departure. Credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in most major hotels, restaurants and shops, but keep some cash on hand, especially on the islands and in smaller towns. Use of American Express is not as common. Requirements a visa are R600 per person per day is required with a minimum of R3600 You ll need to contact the consulate general in Johannesburg directly for inquiries and questions regarding visa regulations and passport requirement at johannesburg. Greece Hotel Tax From January 2018, a new overnight stay tax has been imposed by the Greek government. This tax amounts to 1.50 per room per night for 3 star hotels, 3.00 per room per night for 4 star hotels and 4.00 per room per night for 5 star. This tax cannot be included in our tour price and you will need to pay this upon check in at each hotel so please budget accordingly. Airport Transfers An arrival transfer is included on day 1 and a departure transfer on the final day of your tour. Please note that only one complimentary transfer is offered per booking so if you are on different flights to your travelling companions a supplement will apply. Climate Summer in Greece The climate in Greece is typical of the Mediterranean climate with two seasons a warm and dry summer, and a mild and wet winter. Summer is a long season with temperatures climbing to a pleasant degree as early as late February. March and even April can be somewhat unpredictable months with the occasional rain shower and windy conditions though at this time of year the landscapes are decorated with beautiful wild flowers. The shoulder months between May and June still offer lovely weather conditions but Winter in Greece By late-october many parts of Greece begin to experience stormy conditions with more frequent cloud cover and rain showers. The tourist season comes to an end and prices drop off considerably. Few international travellers visit the Greek islands between November and February so crowds are thin. Time & Voltage Greece lies in the Eastern European Time Zone, which is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +2). During summer, daylight-saving is observed in Greece, where the time is shifted forward by 1 hour so it becomes 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +3). After summer the time in Greece is shifted back by 1 hour to Eastern European Time. In 2017, daylight savings takes place between 26th March and 29th October. Standard voltage is volts. Primary sockets generally require European plugs of the two round-pin variety. We recommend that you pack a universal travel adaptor. You will need a voltage converter and plug adaptor in order to use U.S. appliances. Health Requirements You should seek medical advice from your local health practitioner before travelling to Greece and ensure that you receive all of the appropriate vaccinations. Just make sure you re up to date for recommended - 12 Days Currency & Holiday Money The official currency in Greece is the Euro. Check OANDA for latest exchange rates. Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees Although Greece has become a hugely popular tourist destination in recent years, it remains relatively affordable. We recommend if you are on a budget that you avoid the often overpriced restaurants and cafes that line the main squares and chose places to eat a few streets back. A meal in an inexpensive restaurant with drinks will cost around USD $12, and a pint of domestic beer costs about USD $4.10, while a one way ticket on public transport will only set you back about USD $1.65. Shopping Greece is a cultural haven, and you will find a wide range of arts and crafts wherever you go. Locally hand-crafted ceramics, textiles, wood carvings, and jewellery make for wonderful souvenirs, especially from the Greek islands. Many destinations pride themselves on specific products for instance, the monasteries at Meteora are famed for hand-painted religious icons. If you are shopping for antiques, do beware of fakes and stick to reputable traders. In Athens, the ancient tradition of the agora (public forum) continues today in -4-

5 spaces such as the Monastiraki market, where you will find souvenirs for all tastes, ranging from tailor-made leather sandals to mass-produced Parthenon replicas. Another popular shopping option nearby is Ermou Drinks are a major part of the traditional dining experience. Ouzo, an anise-flavoured spirit distilled from pressed grapes, is Greece s most popular alcohol, usually served as an aperitif with iced water and some small Street, which offers a wide selection of local and international brands. The island of Thessaloniki also caters to shoppers with its boutique filled main square and a variety of malls near the city centre. appetizers. Be careful not to drain your glass too quickly it is a strong drink, meant to be enjoyed over a period of time. Drinking Water In the major cities, it s generally safe If you are looking to bring a taste of Greece home with you, olive oil from the Peloponnese, honey from Attica, and wines from Santorini are excellent products to look out for. to drink water from taps and also from drinking fountains. However, it is strongly recommended to stick to bottled water on most islands and in rural areas. Is bargaining acceptable in Greece? Bargaining is generally not accepted in Greece - in most shops there will be a fixed price for goods on sale. In the flea markets and with street vendors, a bit of bargaining may be more appropriate. Tipping customs in Greece vary widely. Service charge may be included in the bill, but tipping remains a common practice, especially in popular tourist destinations. Your tip should reflect the service so if it was excellent, 10% is an added bonus. At some restaurants, a small mandatory cover charge for bread & water is also included in the bill (usually about one Euro per person). Taxi drivers usually expect tips and it is also standard to tip hotel porters and local tour guides. If the concierge is particularly helpful, people often tip 1 to 2 Euros. Greek Cuisine Greek food has a venerable history dating back to antiquity. Although the country s rocky terrain limits its agricultural output, cooking and cuisine are essential to its culture. Olives, cheese, and wheat are integral parts of the local diet, appearing in salads, stews, and breads. Seafood at restaurants often squid, octopus, mussels, and fish - is likely to come fresh from the Mediterranean, especially on the Greek islands. Tipping Greek cuisine is simple but incredibly varied. In terms of popular dishes, you will find moussaka (aubergine & lamb casserole), souvlaki (spit-roasted meat), and dolmades (vine leaves stuffed with meat & herbs) in many tavernas and restaurants, sometimes with regional variations. Meat-free options include briam (roasted vegetables in tomato sauce), and of course, Greek salad with olives & feta cheese. For indulging your sweet tooth, pastry shops serve delicacies such as Turkish-inspired baklava (filo pastry layered with honey and chopped nuts). Ice cream and honey with yogurt are also common sweet snacks Days -5-

Thermopylae - relive the Spartans' famous last stand against the Persians on this narrow pass. What's Included

Thermopylae - relive the Spartans' famous last stand against the Persians on this narrow pass. What's Included 10 Days Starts/Ends: Athens Embark on your own grand tour of discovery on this 10-day journey of Greece, taking us from ancient Athens to Thessaloniki through the sanctuaries, monasteries, monuments, and